![]() ![]() Inside the human crew vehicle, the atmosphere can be controlled so that special clothing is not necessary, but when outside exploring in space, astronauts need protection ( Schwartz et al., 2002). To explore and work in space, crew members must take their environment with them because there is no atmospheric pressure and no oxygen to sustain life. ![]() In this communication, a microbial characterization associated with wrist joints of flight Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), Modified Advanced Crew Escape System and Orion Crew Survival System (MACES/OCSS) spacesuits was carried out to evaluate the form, fit and function of the EVA swab tool that functional testing provided an opportunity to characterize the typical microbial contamination on spacesuits. Accordingly, a team at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) at NASA has developed a prototype Extravehicular Activity (EVA) swab kit that is suitable for handling by the astronauts in spacesuits to collect microbial samples aseptically, aiming to profile microorganisms associated with spacesuits ( Rucker et al., 2018). It is estimated that 85% of all microbial isolates recovered from spacecraft and supported facilities are microorganisms associated with the human microbiota ( Nicholson et al., 2009). When astronauts will be sent to search for life on other planets, it will be necessary to understand what microorganisms they may bring with them. Planetary Protection aims involve the study and prevention of forward and back contamination, meaning the interchange of microbes and organic materials from Earth to other solar system bodies and vice versa ( Debus and Arnould, 2008). Planetary Protection research efforts at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seek to develop technologies to minimize any terrestrial microbial contamination to ensure the safety and health of astronauts, while also preserving scientific integrity of exoplanetary samples ( NASA, 2019a). This article was originally published on .Several spacefaring nations and private corporations are planning to send humans and spacecraft to other planets such as Mars, to search for evidence of habitats that could support life ( NRC, 2014). I would hope that we can think about how to be able to do it again, so that we can be successful, and everyone can be confident that we’re doing a good thing.” “I think we do recognise our place as role models for people. Will women get their historic feat, just like Apollo 11? “Yeah, I'm sure they will,” says Ross. Interestingly, it’s been forecasted that increasing women within the field would boost the UK’s labour value by at least £2 billion (~Rs 138 billion). But there’s an elephant in the room: more women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) would lead to more female astronauts, and ultimately more medium-sized spacesuits? In the UK, women currently make up just 14.4 per cent of all people working in STEM. “Imagine taking your portable life support system, with your oxygen, your batteries, all these connections and trying to spend the 18 hours that would take to change that over and check it out? I think it was very responsible of her to make that decision.” As Ross puts it: “A spacesuit design mistake really will cause somebody to not come home”. “They have enough people ready to do spacewalks that they’re able to mix and match crew members more easily than spacesuits,” says Ross. ![]() Both women basically needed that medium hard upper torso in their prime sizing.” Subsequently, McClain made the call to hand over the mission to Hague. She realised that what they had planned for her to do was use her back-up sizing or the large upper torso to do her second EVA in the all-female spacewalk because they only had one suit with a portable live support system that configured on orbit. Anne McClain’s first EVA (extravehicular activity) was the week before and she did her EVA in her prime sizing which was a medium hard upper torso, after that EVA she had more experience and more awareness of what that job took. “If you’re a first-time crew member, they make sure you’ve got a back-up suit. “Every crew member that flies makes sure that they have a primary sizing, and a back-up sizing ,” explains Ross. It’s for this reason that astronauts have back-up suits at hand for any set mission. ![]()
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